Camino 11 Ponferrada to O'Cebreiro

Today will be one of the biggest climbs of the Camino - a 7km uphill that comes right at the end of a long day. It's slow and hot but eventually we roll into the pretty and tiny cluster of buildings that is O'Cebreiro. It's Saturday and mass is at 7pm. We go. Of course we don't understand the sermon, save for a few short pieces that the priest has some pilgrims come up and read in German and English.
In the small church there are locals and then about 30 pilgrims. The priest asks all the pilgrims to come up and we go stand in a circle at the front of the congregation. He comes around, hugging each of us in turn and wishing us, "Buen Camino". It was serious, and beautiful and moving.Read more